Statement From Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith On The Budget Reforms Proposed Today By Governor Spitzer

"The SenateMinorityConference has long advocated budget reform measures that would increase accountability, fairness and transparency in the budget process. The Governor's proposal to line out individual member items, as well as Medicaid, TANF, and EPF funding will help create a spending plan that is open to public scrutiny; and his proposal to require a balanced budget and to utilize budget conference committees will help us ensure that our State budget is on time and fiscally responsible.

We are pleased the Governor is fulfilling his pledge to reform our State government to make it more efficient and responsive to the people of New York State."